Save Ryland Pool !!

You may have read the San Jose Mercury News story this morning, http://www.mercurynews.com/mld/mercurynews/16638932.htm, about the city's "aquatics master plan" process, which could spell the death knell for Ryland Pool, downtown's only public pool.

"Ryland Pool, whichwas built in 1925 by the Rotary Club, doesn't have the land around it for expansion and 'is not conducive for the kind of pool we think downtown needs," the Mercury News quoted deputy director of parks, recreation and neighborhood services Cynthia Bojorquez.

However, that "we" is the parks staff and their $250,000 consultants. Not us.

Downtown residents love their historic Ryland Pool, which is great for kids, and the sort of walkability, neighborhood-friendly downtown we want. "'The small pools are much better in the neighborhoods,'" Lou Chiaramonte, who owns the century-old Chiaramonte's Market on N. 13th St. and who learned to swim in Ryland Pool as a kid more than half a century ago.

You can help the effort to save Ryland Pool by joining Friends of Ryland Pool, a subgroup of 13th St. NAC, a 501c(3) non-profit which is part of San Jose's Strong Neighborhoods Initiative. If the city won't re-open Ryland Pool, we downtown residents, working together, can do it ourselves for a fraction of the cost.

Please consider emailing your councilmember, Sam Liccardo at sam.liccardo@sanjoseca.gov. Or call his office at 535-4903. Tell him that we want Ryland Pool opened immediately.

You can also attend important meetings and voice your concerns: Tonight, February 7 at 5 pm at city hall room w-120, the aquatics master plan is being presented to the parks commission. Then, on Tuesday, February 27 at 7 pm at city hall, the city council will have a study session on the aquatics master plan.

You can also make a tax deductible donation (consult your tax preparer) to Friends of Ryland Pool online at www.13thStNAC.org.